Spring-controlling device



ugn, 28, 1934? s. H. TABER I SPRING CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. l, 1951 l ATTORNEYS 'ug- 28 1934 cs. H. TABER SPRING CONTROLLING DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Deo', l. 1931 INVENTOR ilf ff. Tl/ff BY ,f @L

Z ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1934 Application DecemberY `1,l 1931, serial No. 578,340

17 claims. 101267-365 This invention relates to spring-controlling devices for improving the riding qualities of vehicles having frames mounted upon springs. More particularly `the invention `relates to spring controlling L means ofthe type disclosed and claimed in my coepending application Serial No. 429,018, filed.

February 17, 1930patent No. 1,897,538, February 14, 1933. In that application I have disclosed a device for controlling the spring action of a vehi-A cle, `Which device comprises a spring member carrying a roller Whichbears upon a cam. The device is so associated in respect to the frame and axle parts as to affect the action of the vehicle spring supporting the frame fromthe axle.

`Amongthe objects of the present invention is to I provide a device of the character referred to capable of adaptation for producing different springcontrolling eifects, and which may be readily in# stalled and adjusted. Other objects and advan- Y i, ,tages ofthe novel construction and combination of `parts will appear in'the specification `andin the claims thereof settingforth preferred embodiments ofV my invention which may be fully understood from theV detailed description and g drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a partial fragmentary viewof the spring-controlling means as associated with the left frame and front axle of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a partial fragmentary view on line 2 2 `,of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 4 is a longitudinal section. of the cam bearing roller. -1

Fig. 5 is an endview of the roller shown in Fig.-4.` i

Fig. 6 is aside view of af portion of the main-v spring and showing the manner in which the bracket for supportingthe resilient member of the spring-controlling means is mounted on the axle.

, Fig-71s a modiiied form of a spring-controlled device'showing means for` adjusting the same for different loads. The device is shown mounted on the inside of the right frame member at the rear axle. f

- Fig. 8 is a view of the deviceshown in Fig. 7 on lockingy hub and 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing the relation of asso-V ciated parts mounted on the shaft of the eccen-` tric. i

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary View through the lower end of the cam positioninghandle illus` trated in Fig. `7. n Y H 'm Having reference to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the device of the present invention .there dis# of the left frame member 10 of the frame or chassis of the vehicle, and 11 is the front axle. The main-springl 12 is of the usual construction and is attached to the axle by"means of spring clips 13 and 14. v

The device of the present invention is designed to supplement and influence the natural action of the main-spring in such a manner as to improve the riding qualities thereof. comprises a caml5 which is mounted on a bracket lwhich is, in turn, permanently secured to the frame member 10 by means of bolts 17. Since itis preferable to cover the parts the bracket 16 may be made in the form of a box, as illustrated,V and protection is thereby afforded against the usual grit and dirt which would. otherwise'be likely to come in contact with the moving parts. At one side of the bracket there is an opening 17 L through which the relation of the follower 'and' cam may be observed, and this opening is usually closed by a cover 18. 'The cam has an irregular surface with an elevation 19 between depressions` 20 Vand 21. The depression` 20 finishes o into. an elevation 22 at the upper end of the cam member. The cam follower comprises a roller-24fcar` ried at the upper endsof a pair of arms 25,A 26 which are mounted to rock on a pin 27. I have observed that the spacing or working" distance between the axle and the framevaries about l of an inch. An example of my meaning is, if some Vone stands on the bumper of the front end of a car and causes that end to bound up kand down and then steps off and measures this spacing, then repeats this proceduregarnumber' of times, each measurementwill indicate `that this variation does not exceed le `of an` inch. This condition iswhat I term a narrow balance line because it requires considerable force to' Aclosed is shown associated with the forward end This device .l Lovnssv i shaft. Theforward end of yarm 78 `is engaged by a stud 80 `extending from a hub 8l mounted upon the'lower end of rod 82 (Figs. '7 and 13).V

Uponraising the rod 82 the pawl will lcausethe `ratchet wheel to be actuated onev step and the ratchet wheel may `be given a complete revolu# tion by successive upward and downward movementso'f the rod 82. `Rod82 extends through a" hole 83 in the iioorboard of the `vehicle and may be conveniently reached by a` passenger.- In order to give the passenger an idea of the setting ofthe `cam member 61, an indicator 84 is provided. This indicator has a scale 85 graduated to indicate the position of' the .cam member and the scale may be calibrated in unitsof load so `that anybody having an idea of the weight ofthe additional load carried by the vehicle could set the cam ina position for obtaining the riding qualities desired. The lower end of the indicator has an arm 86 which is connected ndi-V rectly to the cam member 61 by means of a rod 87. w

In order that the cam memberV will not be displacedafter being set, Iprovide a locking hub 89 ,which is carried by shaft '70.` Thishub has a plurality of. circumferentially spaced holes '99 which are adapted to be engaged by `locking `pin 91. The locking pin is carriedwithinthe hous ing 92 havingl a slot through which extends .a

projection 93, and a springwithin the housing constantly urges the locking pin toward the hub.

` Rod 94 engages projection 93 and is attached toTcrank 95 which may be rotated by rod` 82. By connecting the locking pin with the rod 82 'in the manner described, it,- is'possible for the operator to release the earn by giving a'partial rotary movement tothe rod 82 and then sub-` sequently raise the rod to rotate the eccentric and thereby change the position of the cam mem- "I ber. When the cam member has been positioned as desired, the locking pin 91 is permitted to entera hole of the locking hub under the action of spring 92. the rod 82 `to its normal position.

, In Figs.` 7 and 8 I have illustrated a` second method. of connecting the auxiliary spring` of the follower to the rear axle housing 96. The bracket 97 which carries theauxiliary spring has a por: tion 98 extending laterally to the main-spring :and this portion is secured to the under side oi the lower leaf of the main-spring. The auxiliary` spring 169 is fulcrurned at .lol and has itsrear end supported by a boltlQZ. Its forward end bears upon a roller 103- carried by a pin which Aextends between the arms 19s, 195. j The lower ends of these arms are joinedV and {pivotally mounted by a pin 106 carried by the bracket, and a cam engaging roller 167 is mounted at the upper ends.

upon pin 106, depending upon the,` height desired for roller lO'Zin 'respect to the bracket'or cam.`

`The cam and lconstruction shown in Fig. 'l is particularly well suited for use on a rear'axle of' This action will restore.

llower element.

Any one of the additionalholes 108,.` 199, 110 may be used for `mounting the follower The naturalresult of addingv more load to `the vehicle frame would be to compress the'vehiole springs and bring the frame andthe axle more closely together. In order to offset this tendency the cam may be rotated clockwise and ,to such a position, for example, as illustrated `by the dotted line. Inthis position of the cam it is evident that theslope of the cam below its high point has been increased so that the verticle component of the reaction between the cam and cam roller is correspondingly increased. It follows therefore that the effect of the spring controlling device may be varied to suit different load conditions by rotating the cam tothe position in which it will bring about the desired control of the main springs.

From what has preceded it Will be noted that the side frame ineiber l0 may be described as a longitudinally extending side frame memberv that is carried on and supportedby a longitudinally extending side spring 12 which is in turn supported on a portion of the transversely extending axle, to-wit the transversely extending front axle of the vehicle chassis and that the side spring l2 is held in place on the axle by the bolt means provided at 13 and 14. The frame j member 10 and the transversely extending axle member just referred to may be respectivelyconv tical position and is secured in place in its nor mal position through the medium of the vertically extendingscrews or bolts 58 and the horizontally extending holding screws or bolts 56 and-57 in aV position Vrelatively xed in respect to the side frame member 10.

the rollers 24 and the pair of arms 25, 26 and which arms are pivotally mounted at the lower ends thereof so as to rock on or about a pin 27 which is in turn carried by a bracket that is fixed'- `ly secured and associated with the side spring 12 andthe transversely extending axle. The roller 24 or cam follower element is located at and secured to the upper ends of the arms 25, 26

which may be considered and referred to as the ,Y

movable frame or body member for the cam folgeneral longitudinal or horizontal direction but` so as to prevent movement in a general vertical direction in respect to the axle 1l. There is It will be noted that the frame or body member just referred to may be con-l carried by the bracket just mentioned a spring which can engage the body or frame of the earn This spring has associatedlongitudinal direction of the cam roller or carn follower into forcible engagement 'with the cam surface of the cam whereby a desired normal horizontal adjustment of the cam roller or cam follower element 24 can be realized and eectedf` This horizontal adjustment which isV incident to be relied upon to obtain a vertical lifting of the cam and the frame to which the cam is attached to a desired normal position relative to the axle. The means for effecting this horizontal adjustment of the spring comprises the member 38. The member or device which comprises the roller 24, arms 25, 26 and the spring 36 and the spring adjusting means therefor may be broadly and collectively referred to as a spring and roller power element carried by and from the transversely extending axle and which has means for positioning the roller or cam follower element horizontally according to a desired spring pressure and in reference to a vertically adjustable cam, and with which cam the cam follower element or roller has continuous cooperative engagement.

The cam and the cam follower element 24 and their associated parts may be considered as cooperating and associated cam elements one of which may be defined as a cam surface providing element which is adjustably secured to the main frame member l0 in a manner to permit of vertical adjustment in respect to the main frame member l0, while the parts which co-mprise the roller 24 may be considered as a cam follower element which is connected to the axle member ll and which is mounted so as to permit general horizontal movement of the cam follower element 24 in a general horizontal direction as relative vertical movement between the cam elements takes place and as is necessary for the cam follower element to follow the successively arranged high and low points that extend along the cam engaging surface. In short, in the construction shown in Fig. 1, and the same is true of the construction shown in Fig. '7, there is provided an auxiliary device which employs a earn surface providing element and a cam follower element ;which are normally spring pressed towards each other in one general direction but which can be adjustably positioned in respect to each other in another or other general direction so that the cam surface and the follower member are adjustably positioned in and along such other general direction thus insuring a structure which provides a compound adjustment as between the cam elements. This dual or compound type of adjustment as between the associated cam elements is believed to be broadly new with applicant and some of the claims in this application are directed broadly to an auxiliary supporting structure or device embodying or employing the dual or compound type of adjustment.

I have disclosed herein two different modications of a spring-controlling device, such as would be used on the front and rear parts of a vehicle, such as an automobile, but I wish it to be understood that I contemplate such changes and modifications as are within the scope of the appended claims and that the use of the device is dependent upon the conditions existing in respect to the various springs of any given vehicle.

I claim:

l. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring' between said frame and axle; comprising a cam and a spring pressed follower, said cam having at least two elevations and two depressions, the follower normally bearing upon one of said elevations at a predetermined position, and means for varying the predetermined position of normal engagement of the cam and follower.

2. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam and a spring pressed follower associated with said frame and axle and controlling the action of said main spring under certain conditions, said cam being adjustably mounted upon said frame for enabling initial settling thereof in relation to said follower, and means for varying the normal force of compression between said follower and cam.

3. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle fra-me, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, a spring pressed follower carried by said axle, said cam being so shaped as to influence the action of the main spring, and means for changing the position of said cam in respect to said follower so as to cause the cam and follower to exert different influences upon the main spring under the same spacing of the main frame and axle.

4. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, a spring pressed follower carried by said axle, said cam being so shaped as to influence the action of the main spring, and means for changing the position of said cam in respect to said follower to exert different inuences upon the main spring, said means comprising an eccentric and a strap secured to said cam.

5. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam, a spring pressed follower, means adjustably mounting said cam on said mainframe, manipulative means for changing the position of said cam mounting and an indicator whereby a user may ascertain the tilted position of said cam on its mounting.

6. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between Said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, a bracket on said axle, and a follower carried by said bracket and comprising a device having one end movably connected to the bracket and at the other end the cam follower part that directly engages said cam and that travels along the cam as the cam and follower part move relative to each other, and a spring acting upon said device to press the follower part against the cam, said spring having adjustable means operatively associated therewith and by which the pressing effort of the follower part against the cam can be adjusted.

7. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, a bracket on said axle, a follower carried by said bracket and comprising a device having one end movably connected to said bracket and at the other end the part of the follower that engages the cam, a spring acting upon said device to press said follower part against the cam, means between said bracket and a portion of said spring for effecting a positioning of a portion of said spring relative to the bracket and thereby effecting the spring pressure relative to the followerpart, and means enabling adjustment of the normal relation between said cam and follower.

8. An auxiliary device for use in combination 'i with a vehicle frame axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, a bracket on said axle, a follower carried by said bracket and comprising a device having one end pivotally connected to said bracket and at the otherend' the follower par-t that is movable so as to constantly engage the cam, a spring acting upon said device"ina` manner` to effect a pre'ssing'of said follower-partagainstfthe member providingfa supportedmember` of .the chassis, an axle member providing a` supporting member of the' chassis, a mainfspringf construction carried by said` axle member and turn pro-l viding `support `for said frame member; and an auxiliary supporting device providedhbetweenfsaid supporting and supported members of the chassisy' which said auxiliary device comprises associated cam elements, one-of which associated cam elements is a cam surface providing `element that is connected to i one of said chassisrnenfibersi` the other of which-associated cam elements isa cam follower element that is connected tottheo'ther of said chassis members, at leastl one lof said cam elements beingconnected to its 4*corresponding chassis member in such a manneras will always permit engagement of` the cam 'follower element and the cam surface `of the cam surface-provid-` ing element, at least one of saidfcam elements being provided with `an "associated adjustable spring means which is relied uponto maintain the cam elements in forcible engaging contact, spring adjusting means for -adjusting the forcing effect of said spring means, and a positioning means for i positioning one of said cam elements relative to the chassis member 'with-fwhich'it is connected and `to which it` corresponds," said cam surface providing element-having the surface thereof extending along" a-generallcngitudinal pathy and shaped so as to have high and low points arranged` along said path, the parts of said auxiliary device "bcing arranged so that by adjusting said spring means there can be obtained and realized adesired forcing effect as between the cam'elements at and for a normal or at restc'ondition as between said camelements and which forcing effect is exerted in a general direction thatis transverse to the-longitudinal path ofthe cam surface, the parts of said auxiliary devicebeing arranged `so that by adjustment of one ofsaidcam elementsin respect to the member carriedf'thereby there ,can be obtained and realized a desiredl adjustment as between the cam elements inthe generali longitudinal direction of the camsurface whereby as the result of said relative longitudinal adjust'- ment said elementscan be brought to a particular normal longitudinal position as betwenthem.

10. In avehicle` chassis construction a-frame- `,tion as between said chassis members and for influencing the character of the movements as between said chassis members incident to the use of the vehicle, which said auxiliary device comprises associated cam elementsvertically movable Arelative to each other, one of which cam elements is a cam surface providing element that is connected to one of said chassis members, the other of which cam elements is a cam follower element that is connected to the other of said chassis members, at least one of said cam elements being connected toits corresponding chassis member in such a manner as will permit engagement of the cam follower element with the cam Asurface of the cam surface providing element during said `vertical movement as between said cam elements, at

least one of said cam elements being provided with an associatedadjustable spring means which is relied upon tomaintain said cam elementsin forcible engaging contact, spring adjusting means for adjusting the forcing effect of `said spring and apositioni-ng means for vertically positioning one of said cam elements relative lto the member to which itis connected, the cam surface of saidl Vcamsurface providing element being arranged so that itfextends in a general uprightpath and- 'shaped so' as to provide high and low points along said upright path, the parts of the auxiliary device being arranged so that by adjusting of said springadjusting means the forcing effect in a general horizontal direction between the cam elements can be. regulated at and for a normal or at rest position as between said cam elements, the parts of said-auxiliary device being arranged so that by the adjustment of one of said cam elements in respect to its corresponding chassis member there can be effected in a general vertical or upright direction the relative vertical positioning of the cam surface and the cam follower element according to a desired normal position.

1 1; In a vehicle chassis construction a frame member providing a supported memberv ofthe chassis, an axle member-'providing a supporting;

member of the chassis, a main spring construction supported by-said axle member and in turn providing support for said frame member and an auxiliary supporting device provided between said supporting and supported members of the chassis which said device comprises a cam element positionable in respect to said frame member, a cam follower element connected to said axle member but soas to `permit relatively horizontal movement of the cam follower element in respect to the axle member, an adjustable spring means associated with said axle member and said cam following element, spring adjusting means for adjusting the' effect of said spring and thereby said cam follower` element 'soV that the latter moves in forcible operative engagement with the cam element, and a positioning means carried by said frame member for positioning said cam element relative to the Y frame member to which the cam element is con` nected.`

12.` An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame member, an axle member,

andmain spring between said frame member and said axle member; which device embodies functionally` associated cam elements one of which cam elements is a cam surface providing element that has receding and protruding portions arranged along the cam surface thereof, the other of whichcam elements is a cam follower element that is mounted so as to follow said cam surface due to a permitted horizontal movement of the cam follower as the cam elements move relative to each other in a general vertical direction, which said device comprises in combination said cam VYelements, Vone of which cam elements when in effecting a desired normal positioning in a generalvertical direction of the cam elements in respect to each other.

13. An auxilary device for use in combination with a vertical frame member, an axle member and main spring between said frame member and said axle member which device embodies functionally associated cam elements, one of said associated cam elements being a cam surface providing element the cam surface of which has raised and depressed portions arranged along the same, another of said associated cam elements being a cam follower element that engages and follows said cam surface as relative movement takes place between said cam elements, said auxiliary device when in use being arranged so that one of said cam elements is carried by and connected to said frame member but in a manner to permit vertical adjustment of the cam element in respect to the frame member, and so that the other of said cam elements is carried by and connected to said axle member but so as to permit movement relative to said axle member in a general horizontal direction as said cam follower element follows said cam surface incident to relative vertical movement as between the cam elements and incident to a deflection of the main spring and consequent vertical movement as between the frame member and the axle member, which said device comprises in combination with said cam elements an adjustable spring means for effecting a forcing of the cam follower element in a general horizontal direction according to an adjusted spring pressure for a normal position for engagement of the cam follower element with the cam surface providing element, and means for effecting positioning in a vertical direction of the cam surface of the cam surface providing element relative to the cam follower element and also relative to the -frame member so as to obtain a desired normal relative vertical position as between said cam elements.

14. An auxiliary supporting and motion conl-trolling device for use in combination with a 'vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; which said device comprises cooperatively associated carn elements and which when in use has one of said cam elements connected to said frame and the other of said cam elements connected to said axle, one of which cam elements includes a cam surface providing element the cam surface of which compriseshigh and low points arranged therealong, the other of which cam elements includes a cam follower 'element which functionally engages said cam surface of the cam surface providing element as relative movement in the general direction of the path of said cam surface takes place, said device being constructed whereby said engagement as between the cam surface providing element and said cam follower element can take place as the frame moves towards and from the axle as the vehicle is being used, said device comprising adjustable means for normally yieldably forcing said cam elements towards each other according to a desired pressure for a normal relative position as between said cam elements in a direction which in general is transverse to the general direction of the path of said cam surface, said device also having means for effecting a relative positioning of said cam elements in a. direction along the general direction of the path of said cam surface.

15. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising means assisting the main Aspring to maintain its load inv a predetermined position in respect to the axle, said means comprising a cam having at least one curved high portion and at least two lower portions, one on either side of said high portion of said cam, a follower and resilient means pressing the follower against the high portion of said cam, which cam is so disposed in relation to Vsaid follower as to normally maintain the desired predetermined position, and adjustable means supporting said cam whereby its initial seating in relation to the frame may be varied. f

16.r An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam having at least one curved high portion and at least two lower portions, one on either side of said high portion of said cam, and a spring pressed follower normally engaging the high portion of said cam, said cam being adjustably mounted upon said frame for enabling the initial seating of the cam at an elevation thereof in relation to said follower.

17. An auxiliary device for use in combination with a vehicle frame, axle and main spring between said frame and axle; comprising a cam carried by said main frame, which said cam has at least one curved high portion and at least two lower portions, one or either side of said high portion of said cam, a spring pressed follower carried by said axle, which said follower normally engages the high portion of the cam, said cam thus being so shaped as to influence the action of the main spring, means for adjustably supporting said cam, and locking means for maintaining said cam in a fixed position.

GEORGE H. TABER. 

